Mother-of three from Northern Ireland found dead in Sydney car park

A man has been taken into police custody after his estranged wife from Northern Ireland was found dead in a car park in Sydney.

Mother-of-three Comrie Cullen, 39, was discovered with severe trauma wounds to her upper body at an isolated angler’s club yesterday and the man is under guard in hospital, New South Wales police said.

Ms Cullen's three children, who are five, seven and 11 years old, are understood to be in the care of friends.

Superintendent Gregory Antonjuk said the suspect, 50, was found leaving a swampy mangrove area nearby with significant injuries to his arms and upper torso.

“We have the understanding that they were married for a period of 15-16 years and as of late last year, around October, the couple became estranged and there was some domestic incidents related to that reported to police,” he told the Sydney Morning Herald.

“As a consequence of those reports an apprehended violence order was issued by the courts.”

No further reports had been made to police since November.

Mr Antonjuk told local media that a crime scene was established following the discovery of the woman’s body.

“A male was located exiting the mangrove swamp area near the vicinity of the crime scene,” he said.

“That person exhibited significant injuries to his arms and upper torso. He was immediately taken into custody and conveyed to a local hospital where he currently remains under police guard pending further treatment and surgery.”

A PSNI spokeswoman said they were liaising with the family following the reports in Australia.

The victim is reportedly a mother-of-three who was born in the North, but had lived in Australia for some time.

Ms Cullen was due in court to fight a legal battle against her estranged husband yesterday, on the day of the attack.